- FTC expects to strengthen its international status and influence as a competitive authority
Han Ki jung, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, was elected as a vice chairman of the chairman's group at the 141st plenary session of the OECD Competition Committee held on December 6.
The OECD Competition Committee Chairperson is composed of the heads of competition authorities in major countries such as the United States, the EU, Germany, France, and Canada, which lead competition law enforcement among 38 OECD Competition Committee members, and is a key organization that determines the composition, progress, and major agendas of the OECD Competition Committee.
It is the first time that a chairman of the Fair Trade Commission has been elected as a vice chairman of the chairman's team. Until now, the vice-chairman of the OECD Competition Committee has been elected as the secretary-general of the Fair Trade Commission or a standing member, but Han has personally served as the vice-chairman to further enhance Korea's status within the OECD Competition Commission and actively lead the ongoing international discussions.
Han's selection of the chairperson is the result of the Fair Trade Commission's outstanding execution performance over the past 40 years and its active role in the OECD. Since taking office in September 2022, Han has consistently made policy efforts to create a foundation for fair competition in the digital market and improve unfair trade practices in people's livelihoods. Through meetings between heads of competition authorities in March and the Seoul International Competition Forum in September this year, he has solidified an international network with leading figures in competition authorities.
In particular, Han led the FTC to improve its constitution by pushing for a plan to innovate the law enforcement system along with a major reorganization of the Fair Trade Commission earlier this year. At the regular meeting of the 3rd working group of the OECD Competition Committee held on December 4 (Monday), it also attracted the attention of participants.
During the OECD meeting, Han held bilateral talks with a delegation of the Japanese Fair Trade Commission, headed by Standing Committee member Reiko Aoki, and a U.S. delegation, including Jonathan Kanter, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Justice's anti-trust agency, to further solidify the cooperative system between the three countries, including discussing major issues.
As this is the first time that the Fair Trade Commission chairman has directly participated in the OECD Competition Committee and was elected as a chairperson, Chairman Han Ki jung also expressed his ambition to be active in the OECD Competition Committee, which is expected to be active as a chairperson in the future.
With the selection of the chairperson, the FTC is expected to continue its activities in the core group of the OECD Competition Committee, further expanding its opportunity to publicize our position in the process of discussing international competition laws and competition policies.